Unclaimed bag triggers bomb scare on railway station in India

An unclaimed bag at a railway station in northern Indian state of Punjab on Tuesday triggered a bomb scare, prompting the authorities to evacuate the place and call bomb disposal squads, officials said.

The bag was found abandoned at Pathankot railway station, about 430 km north of Indian capital city of New Delhi.

However, the scare proved to be a hoax as the bag was found to contain clothes.

"After properly evacuating the area and following procedures, the men from bomb disposal squad found that the bag was not containing explosives instead some clothes,"an official of railways said.

The authorities had suspended rail traffic on the route as a precautionary measure and rushed in police officials to the spot.

Reports said the bag belonged to a military trooper, who alighted from the train on the station.

Punjab was put on high alert in wake of the India's Republic Day function and a recent attack.

Earlier this month, a group of gunmen in military fatigues entered highly guarded Pathankot airbase and engaged Indian troops in fierce gunfight for four days. Seven Indian troops and six gunmen were killed inside the airbase.

On Monday, the authorities grounded a Kathmandu bound passenger plane before its take off at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi following a cryptic telephone call.

However, nothing was found on the plane after its thorough checking. Endit